Eleven Black Caps will lineup for action on the opening day of Plunket Shield first class cricket on Wednesday.
Ross Taylor will turn out for Central Districts in Nelson against Canterbury who will have Matt Henry, Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls available.
Northern Districts has six international playing, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee when they take on Otago in Mt Maunganui.
Southee though is subject to a fitness assessment on a knee problem.
Tim Southee Photo: Photosport
Jeet Ravel will play for Auckland against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
Nine internationals will be available for round two.
The Black Caps head to the UAE later this month for limited overs and Test matches against Pakistan.
Defending champions Central Districts will head into their Plunket Shield defence under the guidance of a new captain, veteran opening batsman Greg Hay having been appointed to lead the team in their first-class campaign this summer.
The 34 year old Hay said it would be an honour to lead out the side on him home ground at Saxton Oval.
"I'm a proud Nelsonian and we haven't had too many Nelsonians captaining the Stags through the years, so it will be a nice touch having my first game here as captain," said Hay.
Greg Hay Photo: Photosport
The first two rounds of Plunket Shield will see teams fighting for an early advantage on the first-class points table before all teams switch to white-ball mode for The Ford Trophy from October 24th to December 1st.
The Plunket Shield will then resume for two rounds before Christmas, with the concluding four rounds to be played in February and March 2019, following the Super Smash Grand Final.
Black caps available for Plunket Shield.
Round One
Central Stags - Ross Taylor
Canterbury - Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls,
Northern Districts - Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee (subject to assessment for a knee niggle)
Auckland Aces - Jeet Raval
Round Two
Central Stags - Adam Milne
Canterbury - Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls,
Northern Districts - Colin de Grandhomme, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner
Auckland Aces - Martin Guptill, Jeet Raval
